I stood on 4th Street as the funeral procession for fallen State Trooper Tony Radulescu slowly made its way to ShoWare Center during the March 1 ceremony.
I was pleased to see that others also felt the need to pay tribute to this outstanding officer who was so senselessly and needlessly slain in the line of duty. Others, like myself, stayed until the last car had driven by in a silent show of appreciation to the hundreds of brave men and women who put themselves in harm’s way for us every time they go to work.
I say “silent” show of appreciation, yet that isn’t absolutely true. I’m referring to the jerk in the blue pickup at the corner of Meeker and 4th Street who drove up to the police barricade shouting a stream of expletives out his window at the officer guarding the way.
Screaming at the officer that you are “a business owner in Kent” and that “you have no (expletive) right to keep me from my business” was a mortifying display of ignorance and insensitivity.
After you finally roared off, I apologized to the officer and told him that you are certainly not representative of the people in Kent on such a sad occasion. Mister, if I knew what your business was, I’d boycott you and encourage others to do the same.
Then there was the young man who kept pace with the procession by walking along the sidewalk screaming out (expletives). And, how about the two young men who ran across the street through the procession and hollered to the officer on the corner that “we respect you, officer, we respect all of you, thank you for your help” and then walked off sniggering and saying, “Yeah, right.”
I’d like to talk to anyone of you next time you call 911 for help. The police always come. Same goes for our firefights and EMTs.
I, for one, do precious little to show my appreciation for these wonderful folks who don’t know me from a hole in the ground, yet watch over and care for me every single day of the year.
Thank you, one and all, and, yes, thank you on behalf of the idiots I’ve just mentioned because whether or not they say it, they need you, too. I wouldn’t want to live in a world without you.
– Ann Gwartz
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